Coalition building begins after challenged election

Jan 22, 2006

Now that results of the parliamentary election are nearly official, the business of building a new government will begin later this month in Iraq. It will be one with a dominant Shiite majority, but one that needs to build some bridges with minority Sunnis and Kurd members in order to elect a president and run smoothly.

Candidates can challenge the election for a couple more days and then officials will study the complaints before certifying the vote later this month. Then, Iraqi president Jalal Talabani has 15 days to convene the parliament, according to the Associated Press. That body will have a month to choose a president.

The results of the Dec. 15 election were delayed more than a month so an outside commission could study claims by Sunnis and others the results were rigged. The commission said there were flaws but it was essentially fair. The voting, by district, assured Sunnis a good chance of gaining seats in parliament. The old parliament had 17 seats held by Sunni Arabs, the new one has 55 seats.

The bargaining and coalition building will now begin and military commanders are gearing up for a expected surge in violence. Suicide car bombers and roadside bombings are feared.

Sunni Arabs have a chance here to regain some of the trust lost when election boycotts were called and insurgent bombings were not denounced.

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